Stay & Play Group Volunteers

Home-Start Portsmouth is a voluntary organization which offers free support to families with a least one child under 5 in the PO1 - PO6 area. It works in partnership with other agencies and organizations to give children the best start in like that is possible, including a Ready for School programme and parent mentoring. 

Stay & Play groups are facilitated by volunteers in Family Hubs across the city. Volunteers plan and deliver a variety of engaging activities for families and their children, encouraging play and social interaction.

Depending on the Family Hub you volunteer in, your role will include some of the following:

- Planning group activities and engaging with coordinator to access resources.

- Obtain feedback from families attending the group to build into on-going planning.

- Setting up/pack away the venue.

- Welcoming and engaging with the children and parents and carers that visit the group/ hub.

- A willingness to be involved in the children's activities.

- Helping maintain the cleanliness of the equipment used by families.

- Assisting in the completion of relevant paperwork/registrations.

- Take appropriate action should any safeguarding situations arise.

- Maintaining and promoting the values and boundaries of the Family Hub.

- Supporting workplace induction for new volunteers

- Report any environmental concerns to frontline reception staff.

Skills

A volunteer undertaking this role must have:

- An understanding of the needs of young children and families.

- A willingness to lead groups as part of a supportive and successful team.

- A supportive and non-judgmental attitude and approach.

- Good communication skills.

- Satisfactorily completed relevant training.

- A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

- 2 satisfactory references.

Volunteers in all Family Hub volunteer roles need to be positive, committed, reliable and willing to learn. Volunteers should be able to commit to a minimum of 2 hours per week. In addition you will be required to access supervision and training required for the role.